Speed control for rolls



Jan. 11, 1966 P. s. COLECCHI SPEED CONTROL FOR ROLLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 50, 1963 INVENTOR. Paul 5. 6018061 iiys Jan. 11, 1966 P. s. COLECCHI SPEED CONTROL FOR ROLLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1963 m 2 we 0 M6 0 Z w P.

Jan. 11, 1966 P. s. COLECCHI 3,223,622

SPEED CONTROL FOR ROL'LS Filed April 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG? INVENTOR.

Paul .5. Colecahi UT T United States Patent 3,228,622 SPEED CGNTROL FOR ROLLS I Paul S. Colecchi, Chicago, Ill., assignor to A. B Dick Company, Chicago, ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,858 13 (Ilairns. (Cl. 242-672) This invention relates to means for controlling the speed in rolls utilized in machines which are required to carry a continuous web of material. In particular, the invention is directed for use in combination with a machine capable of providing latent images by means of an electrostatic printing tube on a continuous web and also capable of developing these latent images.

The instant invention will be described relative to an apparatus designed for the recording of material on a continuous length of paper. Machines of this nature are employed by printing graph grid lines and the machine can be utilized for recording information simultaneously with the activity generating the information. For example, machines of this nature are utilized for recording the performance of rocket engines wherein the engines are run for a given period of time and electronic means are provided for detecting performance characteristics. The electronic means can be employed for generating signals in an electrostatic printing tube whereby latent images can be provided on the paper recording material as it passes continuously through the apparatus.

In constructions of the nature described, it is highly desirable to provide means for varying the speed of traverse of the paper web through a relatively wide range of speeds. The wide range of speeds permits greater versatility in the use of the machine since some recording operations may require a slow speed to provide for detection of extremely small, but critical variations While other operations can be efliciently carried out at relatively high speeds, particularly where important variations will be readily ascertainable it recorded on a relatively small area of the graph. It is also desirable to provide a wide speed range even if the apparatus records only the lower speeds. If only this slow speed is provided in the machine, it may take a substantial amount of time to remove the last recorded pieces of information. Since in many cases it has been found necessary to have the information available immediately, it is highly desirable to have a high speed range in the machine whereby the recording material can be rapidly removed as soon as the last recording operation is completed.

It is one object of this invention to provide an improved speed control mechanism for use in combination with recording machines employing continuous webs of recording material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a speed control means of the type described which greatly increases the versatility and efiiciency of a recording machine by providing high and low speed ranges and by permitting a substantial number of speed variations within a relatively wide speed range.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus characterized by the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view illustrating the relationship of the various gear and roller means which characterize the drive means for the recording apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the gear and roller means illustrating these means in a spread out view for purposes of clarity; and,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a speed 3,228,622 Patented Jan. II, 1966 reduction unit of the type adapted to be used in combination with the structure of this invention.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a speed control means which is associated with roller means designed for moving a continuous web through a recording apparatus. These roller means are adapted to grip the leading end of the continuous web serving to draw this web past a recording device, such as an electrostatic printing tube, and through a means adapted to develop the information recorded by the device. The drive roller means are operatively connected through two different gear trains to a main drive shaft. This drive shaft is in turn connected to a reversible motor and the motor provides for driving of the roller means through one gear train when rotating in one direction and through the other gear train when rotating in the reverse direction. Clutch means are included for each of the gear trains and these clutch means permit operation of only one gear train at a time. The gear trains are so designed that one will effect a high speed rotation in the roller means while the other will effect low speed rotation.

The reversible motor utilized for operating the gear trains is preferably associated with a speed reduction unit whereby minor variations in speed can be effected in the drive roller for the web in either the high speed or the low speed range. As will appear, a speed reduction of this nature will greatly increase the versatility of the apparatus since it will permit relatively fine speed variations in the low speed range while still enabling the use of a wide variety of different speeds through the high speed range.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a recording apparatus 10 adapted for use in accordance with the concepts of this invention. The apparatus is provided with a supply roll 12 of a web of recording paper 14. Several guide rollers 16 are provided in the apparatus whereby the web can be moved past an electrostatic printing tube assembly 15 and through a developing means 29. In the embodiment illustrated, the developing means 2t comprises a liquid developing means and a drier section 22 is provided whereby the image developed can be fixed on the web before it is removed from the apparatus. It will be understood, however, that other image forming and developing systems are contemplated for use in combination with the structure of this invention.

The web of paper is adapted to be cut into sections by a cutoff means (not shown) and these sections can then be collected in the tray 24. Alternatively, a takeup reel 26 is adapted to recover the web in a continuous fashion.

In a typical operation, the leading end of the record ing paper is fed over the various rollers until it can be gripped by the takeup reel or by means associated with the cutoff mechanism. In the embodiment illustrated, the web is passed over a tension control roller 28 of the type described in copending application, Serial No. 277,286, filed May 1, 1963, entitled Web Tension Control.

Drive rollers 3t} and 32 provide for pulling of the web through the apparatus whereby latent images can be continuously formed on the surfaces of the web as the web passes the electrostatic printing tube assembly, and whereby these latent images can be continuously developed. Electronic control means for regulating the signals developed in the electrostatic printing tube can be included in the section 34 of the apparatus. A control handle 36 is included for initiating operation of the motor for the drive rollers and for switching the mechanism from one speed range to the other. A knob 38 is provided for making fine adjustments in the speed in either of the speed ranges utilized.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate the arrangement of the gears and roller means which are utilized for effecting the speed control operations of this invention. The roller 30 is mounted on the shaft 40 and the associated roller 32 is mounted on the shaft 42. In order to provide a clear description of the gear trains employed in the construction of this invention, FIGURE 3 illustrates the various gears in a spread out fashion so that, in this figure, the roller 32 is located above the roller 36. In actual practice, the roller 32 appears behind and slightly below the roller 30 when viewing the apparatus in the same direction as shown in FIGURE 3. The relationship of the gears would be obscured, however, if FIGURE 3 were drawn in this manner, and, therefore, the nature of the showing in FIGURE 3 must be kept in mind when considering the following discussion.

The shaft 42 has a gear 44 associated therewith, and this gear meshes with the gear 46 on the shaft 4%). The gear 46 is in turn driven by gear 48 tied to the shaft 50. The gear 48 is connected through one-way clutch 52 to gear 54, and this gear intermeshes with gear 56 tied to the shaft 58. The shaft 58 is provided with drive pulley 60 whereby this shaft can be directly driven through belt 62 and reversible motor 64.

The gear 56 also meshes with gear 66 which is connected through one-way clutch 68 to the shaft 70. Gear 72 on the shaft 70 drives gear 74 on shaft 76 whereby the gear 78 mounted on this shaft will provide for driving of a gear 80 mounted on shaft 82. The gear 80 meshes with gear 48, and this can be best understood when considering that the end 84 of the gear 80 meshes with the end 86 of the gear 48. Again the nature of FIGURE 3 must be considered and in this connection, the shaft 82, as shown in FIGURE 2, is closely adjacent shaft to permit intermeshing of the gears 80 and 48. However, this relationship would be hidden in FIGURE 3 if the gears were not spread out in the manner shown.

It will be noted that the shaft 58 which is driven by reversible motor 64 through the belt 62 in FIGURE 3 is shown with arrows suggesting rotation in either direction. When the shaft 58 is rotating in the counterclockwise direction, the clutch 52 will be engaged whereby the shaft 50 will be rotated in the clockwise direction to impart rotation to the shaft 40 thereby effecting rotation of the drive roller 30 in the counterclockwise direction and the drive roller 32 in the clockwise direction. The one-way clutch 68 will be disengaged when the motor 64 is rotating in this first direction whereby the shaft 70 will not rotate through operation of the gear 66 at this time.

When the shaft 58 is driven in a clockwise direction, the gear 66 will effect rotation of the shaft 70 since the one-way clutch 68 will be engaged at this time. By means of the gears 72, 74, 78, and 80, the shaft 50 will rotate whereby the drive rollers 30 and 32 will be rotated. The shaft 50 is rotated in the same direction by means of this second gear train, and, accordingly, the direction of rota tion of the rollers 34) and 32 will be the same. However, by reason of the gear ratios exhibited by this second gear train, the drive rollers will move at a much slower speed when the drive motor is operating in this reverse direction. In the illustrated embodiment, a 1:2 ratio is provided between the gears 56 and 66, a 1:2 ratio is provided between the gears 72 and 74 and a 1:2 ratio is provided between the gears 78 and 80. This step-down is considered exemplary only, and it will be appreciated that various gear relationships can be employed to achieve the results of this invention. The critical factor to be noted resides in the fact that the second gear train described effects rotation of the drive rollers in the same direction as the first gear train even though the drive motor changes direction when shifting from one gear train to another.

It will be appreciated that the gears of the respective gear trains always stay intermeshed with immediately associated gears and, accordingly, all of the gears above referred to are rotating irrespective of the direction of rotations of the drive motor 64. Thus, when the shaft 58 is being driven in a clockwise direction, the gear 56 will still effect rotation of the gear 54; however, due to the clutch mechanism, force is not transmitted by the gear 54 to the shaft 50. The shaft 50 is thus free to rotate in response to the action of gear on gear 48. A similar situation exists when the shaft 58 is rotating in the counterclockwise direction since, at this time, rotation of the gear 66 by the gear 56 will not impart a driving force to the shaft 70.

The instant invention takes advantage of the fact that the gears employed are always rotating despite the direction of operation of the motor 64. Specifically, it is to be noted that the gear 80 will be rotating the shaft 82 whether the mechanism is being operated at high speed or at low speed. During high speed operation, the gear 80 will rotate in response to the driving movement of shaft 50 and associated gear 48. Since a 1:1 ratio is provided between the gears 48 and 80, the shaft 82 will rotate at the same speed as the shaft 50. A 1:1 ratio is also provided between the gears 48 and 46 and, therefore, the shaft 82 will rotate at the same speed as the drive rollers 30 and 32. A tooth pulley 90 is attached to the shaft 82 and the belt 92 serves to rotate an additional tooth pulley 94. This latter pulley is mounted on a shaft 96 and gear 98 which is also mounted on this shaft will rotate with the pulley 94. The gear 98 operates to drive gear 100 and its associated shaft 102 whereby the pulley 104 on the shaft 102 will impart 'driving movement to belt 106. The belt 106 in turn drives pulley 108 which is tied, through a slip clutch (not shown), to the shaft 110 of take-up reel drive roller 112. The ratio between the pulleys 104 and 108 is maintained at -1 to 1.1 whereby the shaft 110 will tend to rotate faster than the shaft 82 whereby any slack in the Web will be immediately taken up. The slip clutch is employed to permit the shaft 110 to rotate at the same peripheral speed as the web on the take-up reel 26.

The take-up reel drive roller 112 is of the type which engages the outer surface of the web being rolled up on the take-up reel. The take-up reel 26 is pivotally mounted on an arm 116 whereby the reel will pivot away from the roller 112 as the thickness of the web on the reel increases. The combination of the roller 112 and the slip clutch enables the web to be rolled up at a uniform rate in accordance with the rate of movement of the web through the apparatus without any problems arising due to slack in the web.

It Will be apparent that when the motor 64 is reversed to provide operation in the low speed range, then the gear 84 and shaft 82 will still be rotating at the same speed as the drive rollers 30 and 32 and, accordingly, the take-up reel dr-ive roller will always be synchronized with the speed of the web irrespective of the direction of rotation of the motor 64.

FIGURE 4 illustrates means associated with the motor 64 adapted to make fine adjustments in the speed of the motor whereby variations in the speed of the web can be made throughout the low speed and high speed operating ranges. The mechanism illustrated is of the type known as a Graham speed reduction unit. The unit includes a control knob 38 connected to a flexible shaft 39. The shaft leads into the unit 120, and this unit is directly connected to the motor 64 whereby changes in input to the motor will be directly reflected in the speed of rotation of the motor.

Although any known mechanism capable of making fine adjustments in motor speed may be utilized, the importance of a unit of this nature in relationship to the instant invention will be apparent. Thus, the two speed ranges provided by the control devices above described will be materially supplemented by the provision of a unit such as shown at 120. Assuming that a unit is provided which offers 100 different speed selections, then each of these 100 selections can be employed in either of the speed ranges. Therefore, 200 different speeds can be employed for driving the web through the apparatus. In view of the direct interconnection of the control means described, the variations in speed can be realized by simply switching the dials located on the apparatus. Rapid changes from one speed to another are thus made possible.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the construction described which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a recording apparatus wherein a continuous web of recording material is continuously passed by a device for recording information thereon, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting said web through said apparatus, said drive roller means having a high speed and a low speed and including a main drive shaft, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at high speed when said motor is rotating in one direction, a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at low speed when said motor is rotating in the reverse direction, a first one-way clutch means associated with said first gear train, and second one-way clutch means associated with said second gear train, said clutch means operating whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said one direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second gear train only when said motor is rotating in said reverse direction.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means connected to said motor for varying the speed thereof whereby said drive roller means will have a variable speed range when driven at either said high speed or said low speed.

3. In a recording apparatus wherein a continuous web of recording paper is continuously moved past an electrostatic printing tube wherein latent images can be formed on said paper, and wherein said paper is then moved through a means for developing said images, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting said web through said apparatus, said drive roller means having a high speed and a low speed and including a main drive shaft, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at high speed when said motor is rotating in one direction, a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train including speed reduction gears whereby said second gear train is adapted to drive said drive roller means at low speed when said motor is rotating in a reverse direction, and one-way clutch means associated with each of said gear trains whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said one direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second gear train'only when said motor is rotating in a reverse direction.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first gear train comprises one gear connected to said main drive shaft, a second gear intermeshing with said one gear and connected to an intermediate shaft, and a third gear drivably connected to the shaft of said drive roller means, the one-way clutch for said first gear train being connected between said second and third gears.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second gear train also includes said one gear connected to said main drive shaft, a further gear intermeshing with said one gear and connected to a second intermediate shaft, and at least one pair of additional gears drivably connected to said second gear, the one-way clutch for said second gear train being connected between said further gear and said pair of gears.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including means connected to said motor for varying the speed thereof whereby said drive roller means will have a variable speed range when driven at either said high speed or said low speed.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said drive roller means comprises a first roller directly driven by said gear trains and a second roller driven by said first roller, and wherein at least one of said rollers is corrugated to provide a better gripping relationship with said web.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including a take-up reel for rolling up the web as the web passes from said driving roller means, means for driving said reel, means operatively connecting said reel drive means to a gear in one of said gear trains, said gear being adapted to effect rotation of said reel drive means at the same speed as said drive roller means.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said take-up reel comprises an idler roller and said reel drive means comprises a roller adapted to engage the outer surface of the web disposed on said take-up reel.

16. In a recording apparatus wherein a continuous web of recording material is continuously passed by a device for recording information thereon, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting said web through said apparatus, said drive roller means having a high speed and a low speed and including a main drive shaft, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at high speed when said motor is rotating in one direction, a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at low speed when said motor is rotating in the reverse direction, and clutch means associated with each of said gear trains whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said one direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second gear train only when said motor is rotating in said reverse direction, and wherein said drive roller means comprises a first roller directly driven by said gear trains and a second roller driven by said first roller, at least one of said rollers being corrugated to provide a better gripping relationship with said web.

11. In an apparatus wherein a continuous length of material is adapted to be continuously driven through the apparatus, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting said material, said drive roller means having a high speed and a low speed and including a main drive shaft, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at high speed when said motor is rotating in one direction, a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at low speed when said motor is rotating in the reverse direction, a first one-way clutch means associated with said first gear train, and second one-way clutch means associated with said second gear train, said clutch means operating whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said one direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second gear train only when said motor is rotating in said reverse direction.

12. In an apparatus wherein a continuous length of material is adapted to be continuously driven through the apparatus, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting said material, said drive roller means having a high speed and a low speed and including a main drive shaft, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at high speed when said motor is rotating in one direction,

a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means at low speedwhen said motor is rotating in the reverse direction, a first one-way clutch means associated with said first gear train, and second one-way clutch means associated with said second gear train, said clutch means operating whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said one direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second gear train only when said motor is rotating in said reverse direction, and including a take-up reel for rolling up said material as the material passes from said drive roller means, means for driving said reel, and means operatively connecting said reel drive means to one gear in one of said gear trains, said one gear being adapted to effect rotation of said reel drive means at the same speed as said drive roller means.

13. In an apparatus wherein a continuous length of material is adapted to be driven through the apparatus, the improvement comprising drive roller means for transporting the material through the apparatus, said drive roller means having a high speed operation and a low speed operation in one direction and including a main drive shaft for driving the drive roller means in said one direction for both high speed and low speed operation, a reversible motor connected to said shaft, a first gear train connected to said shaft, said first gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means in said one direction at high speed when said motor is rotating in a first direction, a second gear train connected to said shaft, said second gear train being adapted to drive said drive roller means in said one direction at low speed when said motor is rotating in the opposite direction, and clutch means associated with said gear trains whereby said drive roller means is driven through said first gear train only when said motor is rotating in said first direction and whereby said drive roller means is driven through said second :gear train only when said motor is rotating in said opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A RECORDING APPARATUS WHEREIN A CONTINUOUS WEB OF RECORDING MATERIAL IS CONTINUOUSLY PASSED BY A DEVICE FOR RECORDING INFORMATION THEREON, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING DRIVE ROLLER MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING SAID WEB THROUGH SAID APPARATUS, SAID DRIVE ROLLER MEANS HAVING A HIGH SPEED AND A LOW SPEED AND INCLUDING A MAIN DRIVE SHAFT, A REVERSIBLE MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT, A FIRST GEAR TRAIN CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID FIRST GEAR TRAIN BEING ADAPTED TO DRIVE SAID DRIVE ROLLER MEANS AT HIGH SPEED WHEN SAID MOTOR IS ROTATING IN ONE DIRECTION, A SECOND GEAR TRAIN CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID SECOND GEAR TRAIN BEING ADAPTED TO DRIVE SAID DRIVE ROLLER MEANS AT LOW SPEED WHEN SAID MOTOR IS ROTATING IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, A FIRST ONE-WAY CLUTCH MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST GEAR TRAIN, AND SECOND ONE-WAY CLUTCH MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND GEAR TRAIN, SAID CLUTCH MEANS OPERATING WHEREBY SAID DRIVE ROLLER MEANS IS DRIVEN THROUGH SAID FIRST GEAR TRAIN ONLY WHEN SAID MOTOR IS ROTATING IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AND WHEREBY SAID DRIVE ROLLER MEANS IS DRIVEN THROUGH SAID SECOND GEAR TRAIN ONLY WHEN SAID MOTOR IS ROTATING IN SAID REVERSE DIRECTION. 